Buena Vista/Cottonwood pass (real estate, houses, unemployment)

[Archie 1]

Hi the wife & I lived in Buena Vista in the early 80s about the time Climax mine shut down ,at the time there was talk of making Cottonwood Pass into a all weather highway was wondering if it ever happened. Also wondering what Buenie is like now-pop./business /etc. . Its been a while buy still think about it every now & then. Any info would be appreciated thanks.

[hollyt00]

Cottonwood Pass is still closed in the winter, I don't think it's open yet- last year it was open on June 15.

[proveick]

With the current state fiscal situation I don't see that ever happening. The west side of Cottonwood is gravel / dirt to Taylor Reservoir. There's barely enough money to just maintain the current infrastructure.
BV is struggling just like every other rural CO town with lots of businesses closing their doors. RP

[Archie 1]

Thanks for responses,when we lived there Cottonwood Pass was gravel from the lake up (or thats how i remember it) .So I guess if we'd of stayed we'd still be waiting for it !! Then it was seen as a way to bring in toursim $$-seeing how the economy had hid the skids when Climax closed. Somebody told me the area had recoved pretty much & life was ok ,Proveick dosen't seem to voice that opinion -have you spent much time there ?

[proveick]

We lived in Chaffee county from 2007 - 2010. It's true what the locals say, what happens in the "world" happens here 6 months later. Very true, when the bubble burst (recession) in 2007 it hit Chaffee about 6-8 months later. If we are now in a "recovery" (I don't see it) the bottom hasn't hit rural CO yet.
I have friends in BV (Game Trail subdivision) that have not seen a house sell since 2007.
Most folks are having to drop the price by 40-50% and wait 3 years to sell.
I have seen many of my friends that have lived in Chaffee for 10-12 years be "economically eliminated" in the last couple of years.
Just my $.02

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Archie 1

Thanks for responses,when we lived there Cottonwood Pass was gravel from the lake up (or thats how i remember it) .So I guess if we'd of stayed we'd still be waiting for it !! Then it was seen as a way to bring in toursim $$-seeing how the economy had hid the skids when Climax closed. Somebody told me the area had recoved pretty much & life was ok ,Proveick dosen't seem to voice that opinion -have you spent much time there ?

The real estate bubble--and not much else--is what propped up the rural Colorado economy from the early 1990's until things began to crash in 2007-2009. Much of rural Colorado is now sinking back into the economically depressed state that it has "enjoyed" more often than not during the last century. As difficult as things already are in many places in Colorado, I firmly believe the worst is yet to come. The economy is still coasting on a little of the fumes left from the boom--people still getting unemployment, using the last of their savings to try to hold onto houses, etc., but that is not sustainable for much longer for many people--then things will really hit the brick wall--I'd guess within a year or so.

I don't live in Byoonie, but I know it well, and have lived in rural Colorado for most of of the last four decades.

[Fullback32]

My wife and I vacation in BV quite a bit. For sure the economic problems have hit there. Some of our favorite restaurants have closed as did a B&B we like. I hope it recovers. BV is one of my favorite places.

[Archie 1]

Fullback-- does Delanes resturant still exist ? It was on the main drag kittty corner from Forman's service center (as I recall) it was by far the best in town !!Andy was a real nice guy & his wife a real sweet heart. She had me paint her Jeep CJ7 same color as her shoes- Lavander !!That was a first for me ! Never had a gal walk into the shop & say can you paint my Jeep same color as theses ? Found out later thier house was same color !!-- Have you been up To St.Elmo ? A couple of gals opened a small eatery there & a a fella had a kinda general store--touristy stuff both were only open in summer of course. How about The Arkansa River --still have warnings about it on the bridges (warning the Arkansa River has been deemed hazard to human life enter at own risk) or has it tamed down ?